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India's Irina Brar has her sights set high

Irina Brar could soon be making the kind of waves like Swedish Annika Sorenstam and Korea's Pak Se- Ri have been making over last decade if she's able to get support from of sponsors and be able to raise her level of play.

On the eve of the inaugural USD100,000 DFL Women's India Open, Irina said her passion for golf began even before she swung her first golf club. This was when she was holidaying in Memphis, USA in 1995. "I went to watch the FedEx-St Jude Classic and had the opportunity to see some of the top players like Ernie Els, the late Payne Stewart, Nick Price among others. I was taken aback by the spectator support and the celebrity status these players were enjoying. These things sparked a fire in me to also start playing the game since my parents also play golf," she said.

To make sure she gets started, Irina bought a set of golf clubs returned to India and hired coach Jesse Grewal to start her career in golf. And now the 23-year-old lass from Chandigarh, is embarking on a fast-track programme under the watchful eyes of Jesse to begin her journey to the top of the world.

Coming from a nation where news on cricket takes center-stage in the newspapers and televisions, Irina hopes to change the color of golf in India, now that they have started a DLF Indian Women's Professional Tour that has six legs and them emergence of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT).

"These two Tours certainly offer our Indian Ladies Professional players a great opportunity to strengthen their career in the game of golf and a chance to ply their 'trade' within and outside India," said Irina.

Irina, who was at helm of the amateur ranking in India from 1999 to 2002 and 2004 to 2006 turned professional last November to pursue a challenge in professional golf.

Things however, are not just working right for Irina due to financial constraints. "My parents are not very rich and I don't have sponsors to help finance my trips overseas to play in tournaments. But I make the most of what I can afford. My parents are very supportive and I, for one, would not like to borrow money from my parents. I'm already a grown-up girl and have to seek funds all by myself to chart my own course," she said, adding that the government should also come forward to support and provide higher allocations to women's golf in India.

She added that not many corporate sectors in India want to support golf. "Perhaps we don't have a Annika Sorenstam, Kerrie Webb or Pak Se Ri in India yet. But I aim to change all that and let my clubs do the talking," Irina said.

With the likes of USA's Libby Smith, the winner of the Hong Kong Ladies Masters last month and host of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish and Thai professionals Irina hopes to stand proud with the trophy at the end of the 54-hole DFL Women's Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Perhaps, Irina is patient and hoping to bust and that's exactly is what she's doing right now. However, currently she's on a double mission – golf and academics. Irina is in the final year of completing her Masters in Psychology. "It would be books at night and clubs during the day when I play the USD100,000 DFL Women's Indian Open. That;s what I did last week at the Thailand Ladies Open and the same routine will be carried out when I play in the USD230,000 Asia-Miles Binhai Ladies Open in Shanghai next week," said Irina who started off in sports playing tennis.

Shortly after turning pro last November, Irina went on to win her first professional tournament at the Golden Greens Delhi and that win motivated her to go for the best at international level to put India on the women's golf map.

The only child to Dad Harpal Singh Brra and mum Madhu Brar, Irina said she is pampered but not spoilt. "I have to shift my preparation to high gear if I want to take on the world. But charity begins at home and I have to win tournaments mainly the DLF Indian Women's Professional Tour to bait the sponsors. I wish it is the other way round for me - get sponsors to help me work my way up. This way is not easy in India," she said.

March 13, 2007